Ageratums are ornamental flowering plants from the Asteraceae family. Their genus is quite numerous and includes about 60 species. Almost all of them are "natives" from Central and North America, but some species can be found in the vastness of East India. Translated from Latin, the official name of the flower means "ageless", and this is true: pretty bushes bloom from the beginning of summer until almost frost, and in the cut they remain fresh for more than a week. For this property of the ageratum, gardeners called it long-flowered. You can grow an "American miracle" on your site from seeds. True, every year you will have to repeat the breeding procedure, since the perennial culture is unable to winter in the open field even in the mildest winters.

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Botanical description

Ageratums are herbaceous or semi-shrub plants from 10 to 50 cm high. Their leaves, rough to the touch, have a variety of shapes: triangular, oval or diamond-shaped, but with unchanged teeth along the edges. In the upper part of the shoots, the leaves are arranged alternately, in the middle and lower - oppositely. The stems are erect or ascending, covered with "fluff" and strongly branched. All varieties of ageratum can be divided into 3 categories depending on the height of an adult plant:

dwarf - up to 20 cm;
medium height - from 20 to 40 cm;
tall - from 40 cm and above.

Miniature flowers with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm are collected in voluminous corymbose inflorescences, the diameter of the flowering "cap" reaches 8-10 cm. The bilobed stigmas of flowers give the ageratum a special decorative effect - they are almost 2 times longer than the perianth and effectively rise above it.

Ageratum flowers

The color of tubular flowers collected in baskets has a lilac-blue gamut: most often there are varieties with blue, blue, lilac, purple colors, but there are modern hybrids with white, yellow, pink and red petals. Inflorescences of plants of the same variety bloom at the same height, forming an impressive flower carpet of numerous fluffy "pompoms". Long-flowered has a slight pleasant smell and attracts bees to the garden.

Popular varieties

Despite some difficulties in growing ageratum, flower growers often use it to decorate a garden or summer cottage. Agrofirms offer a large selection of hybrid varieties obtained as a result of many years of selection by crossing the Houston ageratum (Mexican) with other varieties.

The most popular are varieties.

You can use ageratum in landscape design in different ways:

plant a monophonic or multi-color carpet composition from plants of the same height;
create a spectacular multi-colored ensemble in rock gardens, mixborders, discounts and flower beds;
plant miniature hybrids as a bright, long-blooming border;
decorate street flowerpots and planters with flowering bushes, and with the onset of cold weather, transfer them to a heated room.

Tall varieties are suitable not only for decorating the site - they can be cut and put in a vase to decorate the interior of a room made in any style. Low-growing and dwarf varieties can be grown as a pot crop, provided that the winter is cool.

Variety Blue mink

Growing from seeds

Ageratum belongs to heat-loving plants, so it is planted in open ground only after the threat of return frosts has passed. To fully admire the abundant flowering, use the seedling method of growing.

Small numerous long-flowered seeds remain viable for 2-3 years after harvest. They need to be sown in the spring, the optimal time is in mid-March:

Fill seedling boxes or containers with a nutritious soil mixture composed of equal parts of fertile garden soil, peat and coarse sand.
Moisten the substrate in the box from the spray gun and sow the seeds of ageratum from above. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil no more than 1 cm, cover the boxes with future plants with glass or transparent film.
Put the mini-greenhouse in a bright place with an air temperature of + 15 ° C - this mode will be optimal for seed germination.
Every day, remove the shelter from the greenhouse and air the seedlings for 30-60 minutes, wipe the condensate from the glass with an absorbent cloth.
Monitor the condition of the soil in the box and, if necessary, moisten with a sprayer. It is impossible to water the ageratum from a watering can at this time, otherwise small and light seeds will float to the surface or, conversely, go into the deeper layers of the substrate and will not be able to germinate.
After the emergence of shoots (after about 10-14 days), the glass can be removed, and when the first pair of true leaves is formed, the seedlings must dive for the first time.
The second pick should be carried out 14-20 days after the first transplant. For each seedling, you need to take a separate voluminous pot, as the plants develop quite quickly.

When caring for seedlings at home, it is necessary to keep the soil moist, but not to flood, otherwise the ageratum will wither from excess moisture. The air around the seedlings, on the contrary, should be dry.

2 weeks before the planned landing on the flower bed, seedlings must be accustomed to fresh air: taken out to the balcony or yard, increasing the time of stay every day. This is necessary for the acclimatization of long-flowered flowers, which, after a sharp change in indoor climate to outdoor climate, may stop growing.

Landing in open ground

Planting an ageratum in open ground must begin with the selection of a suitable place:

This flowering culture is photophilous and drought-resistant, so the site for it should be brightly lit throughout the day and protected from the winds.
The soil in the flower bed should be light, drained, nutritious and neutral in acidity.
When planting on infertile or rocky lands, one should not hope for lush flowering, so poor soils must be enriched with humus or compost.
On acidic soils, the plant will not be able to develop normally and will wither. To bring the pH back to normal, ground chalk, dolomite flour or slaked lime must first be added to acidic soil.

It is possible to transfer seedlings to open ground not earlier than the time when the air temperature at night ceases to fall below 0 ° C. Depending on the region, this will be the end of May or the beginning of June.

Having chosen a site that is suitable in all respects, you can plant future bushes in the garden:

Dig planting holes of the same volume as the earthen ball in pots with seedlings, and spill with water.
Place the seedlings in the ground so that the surface of the earth on the site coincides with the level of the soil in the pot.
When planting in a row, maintain a distance of 15-30 cm between specimens. The distance depends on the size of the future bush: tall varieties need to be planted at a greater distance, miniature hybrids closer to each other.

If young plants quickly began to grow and began to stretch, they must be cut to properly form a bush and stimulate numerous flowers.

Flowerbed with ageratums, made in the Mexican style

Care rules

If the procedures for growing seedlings and transferring them to the site were carried out correctly, then further care for the long-flowered plant will not cause any special problems. For normal development and lush flowering, traditional agricultural practices will be required:

Watering. Carry out as the topsoil dries up, avoiding stagnation of moisture and acidification of the soil. Water under the root, avoiding water on the leaves and flower caps.
Weeding. After the next watering, carefully loosen the plantings and remove weeds.
Top dressing. Feed every 2-3 weeks with a humic or complex mineral composition for flowering crops. As an organic fertilizer, you can use mullein infusion diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. With the beginning of autumn, stop feeding.
Cut. Cut off faded corymbose inflorescences in a timely manner so that the plant directs its forces not to seed maturation, but to the formation of new flowers.

You should not get carried away with frequent feeding of the ageratum, otherwise it will begin to grow shoots and foliage, and flowering will become rare or completely stop.

Ageratum does not tolerate frost, even if you cover it for the winter. At the end of the summer season, the bed must be freed, and the long-flowered bushes must be disposed of. If you want to keep a rare hybrid variety or just a beautiful flowering specimen, you can transplant it into a pot and transfer it to the house. Best of all, the flower will feel at a temperature of + 15 ° C, so a greenhouse, a winter garden, an insulated loggia or a hall of a municipal institution are suitable for it. In the spring, the saved bushes can be planted in open ground or used for propagation.

Ageratum can be propagated not only by growing from seeds, but also by rooting apical cuttings. They must be cut in the spring from the mother bush and planted in the same substrate that was used for sowing the seeds. Cover the cuttings with glass or polymer transparent jars and root at a temperature of +18...+20 °C. This method is excellent for propagating hybrid varieties labeled F1, the seeds of which, collected by oneself, do not germinate.

Diseases and pests

Long-flowered can not boast of high resistance to diseases and pests. Among the dangerous infections pursuing the culture, the leading place is occupied by root rot. It develops with excessive watering and planting in dense heavy soil. Affected specimens must be removed from the site, and neighboring plants should be treated with Bordeaux liquid or a suitable fungicide (Topaz, Champion). A similar "treatment" will be required if signs of a mosaic appear on the leaves of the ageratum. In the future, you need to control watering and avoid droplets of water on the green parts of the ageratum.

Of insects, most often on flowering bushes you can find gall and leaf nematodes, whiteflies, scoops, aphids and spider mites. You can get rid of pests with the help of modern insecticidal preparations: Biotlin, Aktara, Aktellik, Actoverm, Nematofagin BT. Each of the drugs must be used strictly according to the instructions offered by the manufacturer, and follow the rules of individual safety.

Conclusion

Ageratum is a heat-loving perennial crop grown in the open ground of our latitudes as an annual plant. This flower cannot be recommended to novice gardeners, but summer residents with experience can easily cope with growing spectacular, beautifully flowering specimens. And a huge selection of varieties will allow you to realize any floral fantasies and decorate the garden with a bright colorful carpet.

Translated from Greek, the word "ageratum" means "ageless". Indeed, the flowers of this popular ornamental plant can not fade for a long time. Ageratums are often used to decorate courtyards and gardens, as well as loggias and balconies. Sometimes they are grown as houseplants.

Ageratum: description

This flower belongs to the group of perennials of the Asteraceae family. His homeland is Mexico and some other countries of South America. Also sometimes this plant is found in the wild in East India. In our country and in Europe, it is bred mainly as an annual. For several years, ageratum can only grow indoors, as well as in greenhouses and greenhouses.

The root system of this plant is very well developed. The same can be said about the above-ground part. Fluffy compact bushes are literally dotted with small bright blue flowers. One of the distinguishing features of the ageratum is the presence of soft hairs on the trunk, branches, leaves and even flowers.

Varieties

So, you decided to plant an ageratum in your area. Seeds can be purchased at a specialized store or on the Internet. There are several varieties of this flower, each of which is beautiful in its own way. The most spectacular is Ageratum Blue, or, as it is also called, “blue mink”. Ageratum Blue Danube is also very popular with gardeners. This is a hybrid of the "blue mink", characterized by greater compactness and a lilac tint of flowers.

Very often in the gardens and in the yards you can also see the Houston ageratum or the "Mexican" variety. This semi-shrub or herbaceous plant can reach a height of 50 cm. The flowers of the Mexican ageratum are usually pure blue. Sometimes they also have a slightly lilac hue.

Another beautiful variety is Ageratum Summer Snow. This is a short and very compact plant with small leaves and also small dark pink flowers.

Usage

Ageratum, planting and caring for which are carried out according to certain rules, is most often used to decorate courtyards and gardens in large flower beds. Many varieties of this plant form a continuous, very thick and beautiful "carpet". Very well, these flowers are combined with marigolds, zinnias, verbena, calendula, gelenium and rudbeckia. Sometimes ageratums are also used in borders or on alpine slides.

How to choose a landing spot

Most varieties of ageratum love sunny areas. In the shade, the stems of plants can stretch out, which is why they greatly lose their decorative effect. Rotting of the root system is what ageratum very often suffers from. It should therefore be grown in an open, well-ventilated area.

The soil these plants love is light, nutritious, neutral. Before planting, the flower bed should be dug up and fertilized, for example, with well-rotted manure. It is very good to pre-arrange drainage. To do this, the earth is removed from the flower bed and gravel is poured onto the bottom of the resulting pit. Next, the soil is placed back.

How to plant

The ageratum flower is usually propagated by seeds, seedlings. In the boxes, you can pour garden soil mixed with manure or a special soil mixture from the store, designed for ampel or terrace flowers. Landing is carried out in late March - early April.

Seeds are buried not too deep, only lightly sprinkling them with earth. The air temperature in the room with boxes should not fall below 20 degrees. Ageratum sprouts appear about two weeks after planting. Until then, the boxes should be covered with plastic wrap. In this case, a humid warm microclimate will be established in them, which will allow growing a strong ageratum. Seedlings will be more viable and developed.

After a few leaves appear on the plants, a pick is carried out in cups. Thanks to a very well-developed root system, the ageratum flower tolerates transplantation very well. In gardens, summer residents sometimes even dig up flowering plants and plant them elsewhere. At the same time, there are no negative changes in ageratums. The only thing is that after such a transplant, as well as picking, the plants should be thoroughly filled with water.

When is it worth transferring the ageratum to open ground? Do this as soon as the weather warms up outside. The bushes are planted, carefully removing from the mashed cups. The distance between plants in open ground should be at least 20 cm.

Propagation by cuttings

Ageratum, planting and caring for which - the procedures are actually usually not too complicated, thus, most often propagated by seeds. However, only tall plants with little foliage can be obtained with this method. More compact bushes grow when using cuttings for propagation. The same method is usually used for hybrid forms. Such ageratums cannot be propagated by seeds, as in this case their special decorative qualities will be lost.

To get cuttings, the mother plant in the fall, before the onset of frost, is dug up, placed in a pot and brought into a warm room. In the spring, several healthy shoots (lateral) are removed from the bush. The cut should be made directly under the kidney. The fact is that the tissues in this place of escape are less susceptible to fungal diseases. The length of the cuttings should be about 5 cm. The shoots are planted in a small greenhouse with a loose nutrient substrate. Ageratum cuttings take root very quickly. They are transplanted into open ground in the same way as seedlings.

How to properly care

The agertatum plant is tropical, and therefore does not tolerate drying out of the soil very well. Therefore, the bushes will have to be watered daily. They usually do this in the morning. But don't over water the plants. Waterlogging can lead to rotting of the root system. Water after watering in the garden should not stand.

Of course, the owners will also have to fertilize the ageratum. Growing in this case will be much more successful. For top dressing, you can use well-rotted manure, compost or complex mineral fertilizer. Too much organic matter cannot be applied to these plants. Otherwise, the bushes will grow very fluffy, but they will not bloom. Instead of organics, it is better to use ammophoska or nitrophoska (20-30 g per 10 liters of water).

Plants that are too tall should be pruned. New shoots on the bushes appear very quickly. Be sure to remove the departed buds. Otherwise, the plant will quickly lose its decorative appearance.

Diseases and pests

To various kinds of infections, the ageratum, planting and caring for which are procedures that require compliance with certain rules, is quite stable. But sometimes the owners of suburban areas still have some problems with these flowers. For example, if ageratums are planted too often, they may develop a disease such as cucumber mosaic. Also, errors during planting can lead to bacterial wilt of plants. The same problems often occur when these flowers are watered too often.

Sometimes an ageratum in a flower bed or in a border is affected by aphids, spider mites or whiteflies. In the first case, the flowers should be sprayed with an infusion of garlic. To do this, grate the cloves and pour water (200 grams per 1 liter). The resulting mixture is infused for 5 days. Then 300 ml of the solution is diluted in 10 liters of water.

Spider mites can be dealt with by spraying plants with any preparation from the group of insectoacaricides. You can use, for example, Neoron, Agraverin or Nissoran. Against the whitefly, "Tanrek", "Mospilan" or "Commander" are usually used.

In the event that the plant is planted in the ground too early, its leaves may become very light. The fact is that ageratums do not tolerate low temperatures very well. To prevent this from happening, plant seedlings should be hardened off before planting in open ground. As soon as it gets a little warmer outside, cups with ageratums are taken out to the balcony or loggia. At night they need to be taken back to the room.

The ageratum in the flowerbed is actually very beautiful. But not when his flowers begin to turn black and wither. In this case, the buds may also become slightly moldy. In this case, the affected flowers are removed, and the plants themselves are thinned out. To avoid this problem, watering should be carried out very carefully. Do not pour water on flowers and leaves. It is best to water the ageratum under the root.

planting material

Seeds are harvested immediately after flowering. Ageratums wither about 2-3 weeks after the buds begin to bloom. Most varieties are pollinated by bumblebees and bees. The seeds of the ageratum are elongated and very small. In 1 gram they can contain 6000-7000 pieces. They are light brown in color.

The collected planting material is placed in paper bags or bags and stored in a cool, dry place until spring.

As you can see, this is a rather spectacular and at the same time not too whimsical plant - ageratum. Planting and caring for it must be carried out, however, correctly. With timely watering and using the fertilizers recommended above, you can grow a beautiful fluffy "carpet" that can become just a wonderful decoration for any garden or yard.

An experienced landscape designer has hundreds of flowering plants at their disposal that can be used as border plantings. They perfectly frame flower beds and flower beds, decorate balconies and loggias, plant trees and shrubs on terraces and verandas.

Mexican ageratum flowers (Ageratum) have been known for a long time and have gained well-deserved popularity due to the unusual appearance of the buds.

At the time of its flowering, it forms a dense integumentary layer. A flowering rug is able to decorate a space for a long period of time, since under suitable temperature conditions of the external environment, the buds form almost continuously.

Ageratum belongs to perennial plants, but in difficult climatic conditions it is grown as an annual, because it does not tolerate cold snowy winters.

Look at the photo of ageratum flowers grown in seedlings and used for various design purposes:

What attracts in this bright representative of the southern flora? First of all, the flowering period attracts attention, which, with proper care, starts from the beginning of June and ends only after the first snow falls (in October - November).

This continuously flowering plant can be pruned multiple times during the growing season to form various flower sculptures and borders.

Also, the culture can be used for growing in a flower bed, in a pot and container.

Popular rumor called the ageratum "long flower", which echoes the translation from the Latin language "ageless". Myths and legends tell that the cultivation of this flower promotes health and longevity.

It is recommended to have a longflower pot in your home and office. Moreover, the plant can bloom almost continuously throughout the winter. Only a few specimens require a short dormant period from December to January.

The flower got the name Mexican not by chance, the fact is that the first species were discovered in Mexico. Then travelers brought similar specimens from Peru. Botanically, it belongs to the family of aster and evergreens.

The full name of the culture is the Houston Mexican ageratum (Ageratum Houstonianit mexicanum), several varietal groups are known that differ only in the color of the buds.

The height of the stem does not exceed 50 cm. The most common species do not grow more than 20 cm in height, but at the same time they branch well, forming a lush bush within a short period of time after planting.

Look at the photo of the ageratum flower - you can see the characteristic structure of the petals, presented in the form of narrow rolled tubes. They exude a light, but fairly stable aroma.

Inflorescences are always collected in small baskets, which gives the impression of an elegant light ball. The total size of the inflorescence of one plant can reach up to 10 cm in diameter. And when several such inflorescences bloom at once, they completely cover the entire foliage, turning the bush into one large flowering ball.

The leaf has the shape of a rhombus with jagged edges, saturated green.

After flowering, wedge-shaped seeds ripen with high germination. You can harvest them yourself, they give strong seedlings for 3 years from the moment of collection.

Well, and another portion of a photo of ageratum flowers with various options for their use:

Growing ageratum from seed seedlings: planting and caring for the plant

The ageratum plant belongs to the heat-loving and light-loving species of flora, therefore, for successful growth and development, a high ambient temperature and a long daylight hours are necessary. It is useless to sow in February. It is also difficult to get a positive result by sowing in the ground in May.

The only way to grow ageratum from seeds is seedlings, in which suitable conditions must be provided in room or greenhouse conditions.

Ageratum seedlings are not particularly whimsical and capricious, even with minimal care, they grow strong and viable.

Sowing should be done in mid-March. To do this, prepare containers with a transparent lid, which can be glass or plastic film. 2 parts of sod land are taken, 1 part of sand and peat (humus or compost) each.

Everything is thoroughly mixed, calcined in the oven and disinfected additionally with a pink solution of manganese.

Planting containers are filled with soil, the surface is slightly compacted and moistened with a spray gun. Then seeds are laid out on the surface, which need to be lightly pressed to the ground, but not allowed to be covered with soil.

For successful and friendly germination, they need direct sunlight. A repeated humidification procedure is carried out from the spray gun. Then the container is covered with glass or plastic wrap.

Until the moment of germination, keep the pot on a well-lit windowsill, where the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees Celsius.

The first shoots with proper organization of germination appear after a week. At this time, daily drip irrigation is provided (very careful) and airing for 30 minutes daily.

After the appearance of all shoots, the film or glass is removed. The gradual development of seedlings begins.

In phase 2 of true leaves, the first pick is needed in separate peat pots. After transplantation, after 2 weeks, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers begins with a predominant percentage of potassium and phosphorus.

The plant needs less nitrogen. Soil for picking should be nutritious and well structured.

Planting an ageratum in open ground can only be done after the threat of return spring frosts has passed.

Before transplanting, the seedlings are hardened for 2 weeks. They begin to take them out into the open air with a 15-minute "walk". Gradually, this time increases to 5-7 hours a day.

The subsequent care of the ageratum plant consists in regular loosening of the soil, since its fibrous root system is located at a shallow depth and needs a constant supply of fresh air. The formation of a soil crust inhibits the growth of bushes and can lead to their death.

Watering is done 2 times a week, during the heat and drought - daily. Application of mineral fertilizers - by root top dressing, combined with loosening and mulching of the soil.

These are the basic rules for planting and caring for the ageratum in open ground conditions; at room conditions, agricultural technology is different. In the future, reproduction is possible by cuttings and rooting of twigs, by dividing the uterine bush.

When planting for a permanent place of “residence”, distances of at least 30 cm should be left between plants. Only in this case is full development possible. Flowering usually begins 2 months after emergence.

Varieties and colors of ageratum in a flower bed: blue and blue, pink and white (with photo)

One of the first at the disposal of collectors was the blue mink ageratum variety - this plant had a pleasant shade of pastel blue.

The variety was used mainly in borders and mixborders. Then, in the process of selection work, other shades were also bred.

The most popular colors of ageratum are blue and white, pink and blue shades. Their combinations and combinations in flower beds and flowerbeds allow you to create pictures of amazing beauty.

Widely used in the formation of state symbols, the formation of paintings and sculptures.

Before you grow an ageratum in a flower bed, you need to decide on the shades and varietal characteristics. In particular, it is worth choosing plants with the same botanical characteristics - the width of the bush, the height of the stem and peduncle.

It is worth paying attention to the following varieties of ageratum Capri (Capri), Blue Mink (Blue Mink), Pinky Improved (pink), Purple Fields.

You can choose the appropriate species according to the height of the bushes according to the typical markings used to label seed bags.

So, dwarf plants are designated by the word "pumilum" - their height does not exceed 12 cm. But medium-sized varieties are designated by the word "nanum", they do not reach a height above 30 cm.

It is also worth remembering the good old hybrid forms, especially those related to the F1 selection.

Their distinguishing feature is their rapid growth and huge inflorescences, giving an absolutely fantastic look to a flowering bush.

The white ageratum variety "Summer Snow" deserves special attention - look at the photos of representatives of this family:

Gorgeous snow-white inflorescences will be a great addition to the gerberas and verbenas planted nearby. But the blue ageratum "Adriatic" in the photo is shown in various types of its use, most often it is a border form of plants.

Graceful and “pure” snow-white chrysanthemums and zinnias will look advantageous against a pastel background that sets them off.

The blue ageratum "Ocean" in this case can be used to decorate flower beds and flower beds with various zinnias, asters, marigolds and dahlias planted there.

Ageratum is a luxurious ornamental plant. The name of the flower in Greek means "ageless" because of its long flowering period. An unpretentious plant grows well anywhere: in a flower bed, in a garden, on a balcony, in a box on a windowsill, in a greenhouse. It is an original room decoration.

Ageratum is grown from seeds and seedlings. Growing seedlings is considered a faster and more reliable way, in contrast to the long and laborious - seed. When planting seedlings, use ready-made soil for ampelous or terraced plants from a specialized store.

You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing the earth with humus. Planting seedlings in the ground is carried out in the spring - April - May.

Growing seeds

Sowing of seeds is carried out from February to the end of April. In boxes with earth, small grooves are made to a depth of 0.5 - 1 cm. Seeds are evenly distributed into the grooves and covered with earth.

Ageratum growing from seeds when to plant

The boxes are covered with foil or glass to improve seed germination. The resulting greenhouse effect increases the temperature inside the box and retains moisture. For the full cultivation of ageratum, the temperature should be maintained at least 20 ° C. The appearance of the first shoots can be expected in about 2 weeks.

When 2 - 4 full-fledged leaves appear, the seedlings are picked. Seedlings are transplanted into separate containers. After picking, young flowers should be watered abundantly. Due to the well-developed root system, ageratums easily take root in a new place.

Growing seeds - video:

Landing in open ground is carried out in a warm period of time, at a temperature not lower than 20 ° C. The heat-loving culture does not tolerate cold weather, so plants are planted not by numbers, but by weather conditions.

Picking seedlings - video:

Ageratum before planting in the ground

Reproduction by cuttings

Ageratum is usually propagated by seeds and seedlings. Compared with cuttings, these methods are less labor-intensive and are used more often. The method of propagation by cuttings is used to breed hybrids, and to achieve a bushy plant appearance.

Propagation of ageratum by cuttings

Preparation for cuttings occurs in the fall before the onset of frost. Flowers intended for reproduction from open ground are transplanted into pots and brought into a warm room. With the onset of spring, side shoots up to 5 cm in size are cut from the plants. The place of the cuts should be below the buds, where a special substance is located, which further protects the mother plant from the effects of fungus and disease. Cut cuttings should be planted in a mini greenhouse. Planting in open ground occurs, as in the usual planting of seedlings of plants.

Ageratum Care

Constant and proper care of the ageratum, as well as compliance with important recommendations, allows you to grow a full-fledged culture.

Watering the ageratum

Flowers do not tolerate increased flooding with water. For the full development of plants requires daily moderate watering. It is best to water in the morning. The moisture entering the soil under the influence of sunlight gradually evaporates, thereby allowing the flowers to receive important vital energy. During the flowering period, the dose of watering should be slightly increased. The soil should also be kept evenly moist.

top dressing

Good growth of flowers contributes to the introduction of humus. In the absence of this fertilizer, you can use mineral or compost, exactly observing the required dosage. An excess of fertilizers, including organic ones, can bring plants a small number of flowers with increased growth.

what does ageratum look like

The result is a non-flowering voluminous bush. Stable flowering of ageratum brings the use of nitrophoska and ammofoska at the rate of 20 - 30 grams of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.

Loosening and pruning

Constant care requires periodic loosening of the soil and removal of weeds. During weeding, care should be taken to loosen the earth, in order to avoid damage to the roots that are close to the surface.

The restoration of the flower after trimming the overgrown upper part is painless and fast. Withered and dry flowers are removed from the plants. This will create an attractive appearance, keep the bushes compact, and also extend the flowering period.

Ageratum at home

Home conditions are great for flower development. Unpretentious plants grow remarkably in spacious containers, with a small amount of drainage added to the bottom. In winter, they delight with friendly flowering. In the summer, they are placed on the balcony, veranda or fixed under the windows.

Simple rules for caring for ageratum at home will allow plants to maintain a decorative look for a long time:

The arrangement of flowers in the room should be on the south side of the apartment, near the windows, with a lot of heat and light.
Watering plants should be carried out daily in the morning, with small doses under the root.
The purchase of ready-made soil for ageratum, with the necessary content of trace elements and organic substances, will allow plants to receive useful nutrients. At the same time, the loose structure of the soil will give the roots a constant access of air.
Complex formulations of dressings must be applied once every six months.
Overgrown flowers should be divided and planted in spacious containers.

Diseases and pests

Ageratum is resistant to various diseases. Due to its tropical origin, it is a "not tasty" plant for pests. However, despite its good resistance indicators, it is also subject to some diseases and attacks from dangerous pests:

frequent planting and increased watering of plants leads to the appearance of cucumber mosaic and bacterial wilt;
most susceptible to aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.

Garlic tincture is the most effective folk method in pest control.

To prepare the tincture, use 220 grams of chopped garlic, poured with 1 liter of water. After 5 days, the mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water. The finished tincture is applied with a sprayer to the infected areas of the plant. When making a tincture, you should carefully monitor the amount of garlic used in order to avoid burns on plants in the future.

Both folk and industrial special means help to resist pests. In the fight against spider mites, it is recommended to use industrial products from insectoacaricidal preparations: Agravertin, Neoron and Nissoran. Preparations will help to cope with the whitefly: "Mospilan", "Tanrek" and "Commander".

Difficulties in growing and caring

With early planting of ageratum, the color of the leaves may change to a lighter color, due to low temperatures at night. In this case, timely hardening of seedlings with shelter during the cold night will be an effective preventive measure. It is also possible targeted hardening with the removal of seedlings to the balcony. As a shelter, they use: cellophane, paper bags, trimmed voluminous plastic eggplants.

With improper watering of the ageratum, blackening and rotting of the plant is possible. Abundant watering from above leads to the retention of water droplets by the fleecy upper part of the plant. With insufficient ventilation, the flower is covered with mold with further negative consequences. In this situation, only the root method is a mandatory and correct condition for irrigation.

Collecting seeds for planting

In order to obtain seeds for planting, the flowers must be pollinated by bumblebees or bees. After the end of the flowering period of plants, after about 2-3 weeks from the appearance of flowers, seeds are collected for future planting. The collected seeds are light brown in color, very light, elongated and small in size. 1 gram can contain from 6 to 7 thousand pieces.

Seeds are best stored in paper or cloth bags in a cool, dry place.

Description of ageratum with a photo of flowers

The southern tropical countries of Mexico and South America are considered to be the birthplace of the perennial ageratum. A large distribution of flowers can also be seen in the eastern part of India. In the climatic conditions of Russia, due to poor frost tolerance, the plant is grown as an annual. A developed root system adapts well to a new place. A heat-loving culture in greenhouses and at home is able to grow for many years.

Ageratum blue in the photo

The appearance of the ageratum has a small bush shape with stems not exceeding 60 cm in length. Small bright green leaves from 3 to 4 cm completely cover the plant, creating a lush carpet. The decorativeness of the ground cover plant is given by soft fibers that envelop the leaves, stems and flowers. In the bushy part are tubular flowers of blue and purple, with petals in the form of long soft needles. The color scheme of flowers of ageratum varieties is represented by pink, white, lilac and other shades. Long flowering up to 5 months, starting from May - June and ending in October, pleases others with its richness and amazing beauty.

Culture is widely used in landscape design. It goes well with many plants. Used in the design of carpet compositions. Able to harmoniously fill empty spaces among representatives of other cultures. Demanded in the work of designers and florists.

Popular varieties of ageratum

Flower growers who wish to replenish their collection with ageratum must first choose a plant variety. Each type of flower has its own merit.

blue mink

The most popular of all varieties. This species has large flowers with a classic color. Numerous hybrids have been created based on this variety. The flower called Ageratum Blue Danube is the most beautiful. The hybrid of this plant is smaller than the parent variety. The main difference of this type of ageratum is its unusual lilac color of flowers.

Mexican

The variety has a second name - Houston's ageratum. The size of the flowers is larger than that of the Blue Mink. It can reach a height of up to 50 cm. The variety contains two subspecies: shrubby and herbaceous. The flowers are light blue with a lilac tint, collected in corymbose inflorescences. Plants are photophilous, adapt well to bright sunlight and are not afraid of high temperatures.

Ageratum mexican photo

summer snow

This species has a miniature and not too branchy form of the bush. Small leaves of rich light green color. Lush white flowers are collected in complex umbrella-shaped shields, which are densely distributed over the surface of the bush. Continuous flowering runs from early June to late autumn. Flowers tolerate heat well. The variety is grown on the borders of flower beds and in flowerpots.

Agerantum white Summer Snow

pink ball

It is the best ground cover annual variety. A small branched bush during flowering is hidden by a bright hat of fluffy and fragrant pink flowers. Blooms intensively from mid-June to mid-October. There are pubescent large leaves. A sun-loving plant grows well in nutritious soil. Used to decorate flower beds for various purposes.

ageratum pink ball

Bonjour

The variety of an annual plant is a low bush about 25 cm high. Flowering from the beginning of June lasts until the onset of the first frost. In large corymbose inflorescences, fragrant multi-colored flowers are collected. Light-loving and drought-resistant species can be grown with little shading. Flowers are an original decoration for balconies, flower beds, flower beds and mixborders.

snow cover

The ground cover variety is strewn with snow-white flowers, which are collected in fluffy paniculate inflorescences. A low sprawling bush reaches a height of up to 25 cm. Luxurious white "spread" flowers cover a flower bed, flower garden, border, harmoniously combined with other flowering plants.

ageratum snow cover photo

white ball

Small flowers resemble fluffy white balls, densely dotted on small spherical bushes. Drought tolerant plants grow in any soil. Tolerates sun and partial shade well. They bloom profusely until frost. A bewitching impressive look is a combination of a variety with red, blue, pink and purple flowers of other varieties of ageratum. Plants are grown to decorate flower beds, balconies, borders, rocky hills.

ageratum white ball photo

Treasures of the Aztecs

An excellent characteristic of the variety distinguishes this species from other types of ageratum. Grown by seedlings. Long abundant flowering pleases the entire summer period until the first autumn frosts. A wide range of colors of flowers harmoniously looks in a decorative flowerpot, in any flower bed, as well as when creating spectacular borders.

ageratum aztec treasures photo

Places for planting ageratum

Ornamental culture is widely used for home and garden decoration. Most of all grows in a flower bed. When planting several varieties, a beautiful flower meadow is obtained. The combination of plant varieties with red and yellow flowers of other cultures elegantly and effectively decorates any flower bed. Also used to decorate borders and alpine slides.

To create expressive flower arrangements, ageratum is grown with other decorative flowers: zinnia, velvet, calendula and many others.

A light-loving plant requires a lot of sun and space. Planting in a shady place is not suitable for flowers, they are more stretched in height, while losing their aesthetic appearance. For planting choose the soil fertile and neutral in chemical composition. As a fertilizer, rotted manure is used, which, unlike fresh, does not burn the roots of plants. Poorly ventilated soil is drained to prevent rotting of the root system. To do this, a layer of gravel is laid under the top layer of the earth.

The best varieties of ageratum are rightfully popular and in demand among many flower growers. An unpretentious plant, with timely planting and proper care, endows all its connoisseurs with an abundance of bright multicolor.

Tetra Vary is an almost spherical, compact bush. Blue, collected in dense corymbose inflorescences of baskets.

Origin of ageratum, characteristics

In order for the seeds to sprout well, make sure that the soil is always slightly moist. To do this, periodically sprinkle it with water, and then cover the surface of the box with cling film or glass.

This is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant grown as an annual.

Growing ageratum from seeds

Growing ageratum from seeds (video)

Planting the ageratum in the ground and caring for it

Then you need to know that ageratum:

ageratum blue lagoon

"Little Dorrit" ("Little Dorrit") - compact, low, hemispherical bushes 15-20 cm high. Slightly pubescent, strong shoots. Round-rhombic, small, long petiolate leaves. Many-flowered, loose inflorescences. Light blue baskets 0.8-1.3 cm in diameter. Short snouts. This early variety blooms from early June. Not drought resistant enough. Recommended for flowerbeds, flower beds, landscaping balconies and pot culture.

When two or three true leaves appear, the seedlings dive. Picking is required. I tried not to dive shoots of the Blue Mink ageratum. For three weeks they stood in one pore in a container, and only after planting in the ground at the end of May in the form of the thinnest sprouts, they quickly began to grow. They bloomed, respectively, later than their peaked counterparts.

Adult plant care

The color of the flowers is blue, lilac-blue, white, rarely pink, red. The flowers are small, fragrant, collected in small baskets, reminiscent of a powder puff. The inflorescences are given the main decorative effect by two-lobed stigmas, which exceed the length of the perianth almost twice and strongly protrude above it. Perianth and stigma are usually colored the same. Among the exceptions is the Leda variety, which has a blue perianth and white stigmas.

Types of ageratum

The structure of the leaves of each ageratum is different. There are flowers that have the shape of leaves in the form of a triangular shape, and there are those that have a rhombic shape. Also, some of the edges are jagged, and some have a crenate shape. Flowers can be of various shapes, it all depends on the type of ageratum. Most often, the flowers are blue, but there are those that are white and pink. Ageratum tolerates the transplantation procedure well and painlessly. The main thing is that during the rooting period he has enough moisture, light and heat. After planting, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the plants with humus or peat, since the evaporation of water will be slower, and if there are unexpected frosts, not the entire plant will die, but only its top. Shortly thereafter, shoots may begin to grow again from the bottom.

This perennial tolerates winter well and usually blooms until the onset of frost, after which it dies. In early spring, you will need to remove the remains of flowers. Ageratum, the cultivation from the seeds of which you decided to master, blooms quite luxuriantly, but only with additional watering during times of drought. Water the plant abundantly, but do not flood it. Trimming and shearing are transferred to them properly. As for fertilizers, when using them, you can stop your choice on everything except organic. It is best to resort to their help during the growing season. The most important thing in the care of ageratum is the constant fight against weeds. This is done by weeding and loosening the soil and noticeably accelerates the development of the plant.
Does not tolerate soil fertilization with fresh manure;
Ageratum blue muff;
Flowering ageratum begins 40-60 days after planting it in open ground. It is very beautiful and everyone will like it. Small purple and pink inflorescences are in perfect harmony with any garden vegetation. To maintain the ageratum in a similar state, the plant must be constantly fed, do not forget about watering and constantly remove dried inflorescences to make room for new buds. In this case, flowering can occur until mid-autumn.
The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a small shrub Ageratum - a wonderful plant native to the tropics of Central America. It was brought to our continent in the 19th century and is still very popular. The plant is unusually beautiful, but, unfortunately, due to our climate and poor adaptability to temperatures and soil, it can only be annual, which does not stop our flower growers and they are happy to grow their favorite plant in their garden plots.
"Summer Snow" ("Summer Snow") - bushes up to 45 cm high, white, in dense corymbose inflorescences of the basket, blooms profusely.
In order for the plant to bush better, it should be pinched over 3-4 pairs of true leaves (the plant reaches a length of about 8-10 cm in this area).
Requires open, sunny places, and even with slight shading it stretches, blooms unfriendly and is not as spectacular as in the sun.
Does not tolerate waterlogged soil;
Ageratum bloom mink;
The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a small shrub. The leaves are bright green, rounded. Inflorescences are fluffy, purple, blue or pink. The size of the shrub depends entirely on the variety and climate of the region in which it is grown and can range from 10 to 60 cm. At home, ageratum has more than 60 species and is a perennial plant.

"Fire Pink" - compact, 20-30 cm tall plants. Small leaves. Loose, dark pink, bright lilac in buds, inflorescences 4-5 cm in diameter, individual baskets are small, about 1 cm in diameter.

Seedlings do not tolerate dampness. Seedlings need to be watered moderately.
For young plants, slight spring frosts are very dangerous, but in autumn the ageratum continues to bloom even at low temperatures.

Ageratum in the garden (video)

What does the plant not tolerate?

It should be done as written below, and everything so that the flowers grow beautiful and can please the eyes of others for a long time. Caring for the ageratum, in principle, is not very difficult. Care includes loosening the soil, watering, weeding and top dressing. Top dressing is carried out every two to three weeks. It is better to do this with humic or mineral fertilizers, as well as mullein infusion, since it has already been said that ageratum does not withstand fresh manure.

Highly susceptible to pests;
bonjour ageratum;
In fact, there are a lot of types of ageratum, it’s only a pity that not everything is possible to grow in our conditions, but

Now, more and more often, ageratum varieties are being replaced by heterotic F1 hybrids, which are distinguished by earlier, longer and more abundant flowering, rapid growth, compactness and uniformity in height. The most commonly offered hybrids are:

Ageratum in our garden (photo)

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Ageratum: growing from seeds and further care

To obtain a homogeneous planting material a. often propagated by cuttings. To do this, the mother bushes are kept on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. Then, in early spring (March or April), they are cut and the cuttings are rooted at an appropriate ambient temperature of 20-22 °C. Plants grown from cuttings remain even in height and compact in the future.

In order for the plants to remain beautiful for as long as possible, it is advisable to cut the wilted inflorescences together with the tops of the shoots, after cutting a. quickly recovers and blooms again.

In most cases, only seed propagation is used, since it is much easier and less tights with it.

If there is an excess of fertilizer, then the ageratum begins to "fatten", that is, all the forces are spent on the development of the bush, and not on flowering.

Weak to plant diseases.

Ageratum raspberry;

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If you properly care for the plant, then in greenhouses or even on open ground, a skilled gardener will be able to grow:

Ageratum is grown from seeds that begin to be sown in March (second half of the month). It is advisable to prepare the soil for sowing so that the seeds begin and in the near future you can see the first shoots. Most of all, a mixture of peat, sand and humus in proportions of 1: 1: 1 is suitable. Ageratum has very small seeds, so when planting in the soil, you should sprinkle them very carefully. Ageratum, the cultivation of seeds of which takes place in a small box, best perceives light soil, which must be constantly moistened, spraying a little. The temperature of the content during this period is about +15 ° С. It is advisable to cover the box with plastic wrap or glass, thereby creating the effect of a small greenhouse. This will help the seeds germinate faster.

"Atlantic" - plant height 20 cm, the color of the inflorescences is purple-blue;

Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May-early June, when the threat of spring frosts has passed according to the scheme 20x25 cm.

Perfectly tolerates a transplant in flowering form.

Planting ageratum

Ageratum is a perennial plant that is grown in our middle lane as an annual. It has become a real discovery for my garden. Ageratum is propagated using seeds or cuttings. Ageratum has a small fruit, which contains about 6-7 thousand seeds per gram. These seeds can remain viable for up to 4 years.

In order for you to have lush and abundant flowering plants, and not thin elongated ones, they should be cut. At the same time, several internodes are left near the base. After that, the plant will begin to grow again, but more magnificently.

Reproduction of ageratum

Ageratum is a flower that is pubescent with short colorless hairs. Ageratum is considered a highly branching plant. Flowers reach a height of 10 to 60 centimeters.

Sowing seeds of ageratum

ice ageratum;

blue ageratum;

Ageratum transplant

"Adriatic" - plant height 15-20 cm, color of inflorescences is medium blue;

Ageratum Care

Grows well in light neutral nutrient soil. For a. requires a sunny location, light, nutritious soils with a neutral reaction and moderate watering. On too oily land, everything goes into the vegetative mass to the detriment of flowering. Does not tolerate waterlogging.

A. hybrids are now very widely used, since they bloom earlier and bloom longer and more abundantly. In such plants, the bushes are compact, the same in height, which is important for growing a. like a border plant.

In one of the flower beds, I saw an amazing combination of yellow marigolds and some other blue flowers. I found out that the name of these flowers is

When autumn comes and the first frosts begin, the Ageratum plant dies. In order to save it, you need to transplant it into winter greenhouses or greenhouses, if any, of course. This is how you can save the ageratum bushes you like.

We hope that none of these facts scared the future owners of the ageratum in their garden plot, because this plant, like all others, grows well in the garden and pleases the eye only when it is given due attention and given at least part of the free time.

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> Ageratum - Care and planting for ageratum

Ageratum bouquet;

Ageratum blue mink;

General characteristics of ageratum

"North Sea" - height 20 cm, dark purple-blue color;

Further care for a. consists in watering, weeding and loosening the soil, fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Planting ageratum

Ageratum is well cut, quickly gives young shoots and blooms profusely. It is this quality that makes the plant very convenient when creating bright carpets and low borders. Ageratum

Reproduction of ageratum

In the spring, cuttings of these plants can take root in sand or a soil-sand mixture.

Care and planting for ageratum

Sowing seeds of ageratum

Description

Ageratum snowball.

Ageratum transplant

Mexican ageratum;

Already after 8-10 days you will be able to see the first shoots of the ageratum, at the same moment the film should be removed from the box. It is necessary to let the plant rise and get stronger a little, release a few strong leaves, and only then plant them in separate pots, which is necessary due to the fact that the ageratum develops quickly enough and soon small bushes will simply interfere with one another.

Ageratum Care

"Blue Ribbon" - height 15-17 cm, medium blue color, flowering begins 10-14 days earlier than other hybrids;

This flower has numerous varieties that differ in the shape of the inflorescences and the color of the flowers, the timing of flowering, the height of the bush and the shape of the leaves.

The most beautiful plants can be transplanted from the ground into pots in the fall and placed on a cool windowsill or other cool place. Two to three weeks after transplanting, the bushes need to be fed with complex mineral fertilizer, and then a. in winter it will bloom for a long time and abundantly.

Preservation of ageratum during frosts

Since ageratum is a heat-loving plant, it does not tolerate frosts, even light ones. That is why the landing takes place in the warm months, in the middle lane, when you can not be afraid of frost.

Propagating the ageratum with cuttings is very simple. And all because adventitious roots can easily form on the stem. Although the same method is occasionally used only by breeders or flower growers.

It should be done as written below, and everything so that the flowers grow beautiful and can please the eyes of others for a long time.

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Ageratum

Ageratum is one of the most lush herbaceous perennials, while not having graceful beautiful lines and attractive greenery. These shortcomings are compensated by its incredible flower pompoms. As a result, any garden or plot receives a spectacular palette of blue, for which, in fact, people start an ageratum. Growing from seeds of this plant is also often associated with low maintenance requirements. In particular, its main need is a sunny bright place. Otherwise, flowering will not be as attractive, and the leaves will gradually crumble. Based on this, access to the rays should be provided everywhere, from the pot to the border or flower bed. Mexican Ageratum can be planted in any soil, as long as it is not stony and not damp. In addition, there is no need to enrich the soil with fertilizers, because this will lead to an increase in the number of leaves due to a decrease in the number of flowers.

This is not the whole list, but it is quite enough to start growing ageratum. Ageratum Houston; Now, when the ageratum seedlings, which have not yet grown stronger, are planted in separate pots, it is necessary to provide them with proper care - timely watering and lighting - and wait patiently until the night frosts end. In each region, this period is slightly different, but the approximate time for planting a plant in the ground is May or early June. At this time, there are no more frosts and the soil is warm enough.

"Ocean" - height 20 cm, light blue color, early flowering.

There are interesting descriptions of varieties on the Internet. I bring some of them.

Combined with marigolds, calendula, zinnia, verbena, antirrinum from annuals; with gelenium, heliopsis, perennial rudbeckia.

I decided to make such a flower bed for myself. And now we are making a journey into the natural world to learn as much as possible about these long-flowering plants.

Ageratum tolerates the transplantation procedure well and painlessly. The main thing is that during the rooting period he has enough moisture, light and heat. After planting, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the plants with humus or peat, since the evaporation of water will be slower, and if there are unexpected frosts, not the entire plant will die, but only its top. Shortly thereafter, shoots may begin to grow again from the bottom.

In most cases, only seed propagation is used, since it is much easier and less tights with it.

Ageratum Growing

The root system of the ageratum is fibrous, adventitious roots can easily develop. Therefore, he prefers sandy and loamy soils. It is better if they are non-acidic and fertile. It is not worth fertilizing this flower with fresh manure, as it cannot withstand it. Due to the fact that the ageratum has a developed root system, the plant can easily cope with water shortages or overheating of the soil. This is extremely convenient for various growing places.

Ageratum: growing from seeds

Ageratum pink;

"Purple Fields" - a compact hybrid, 20-25 cm high, baskets of an unusual purple color. Plants spread on the ground up to 30 cm. The variety is therefore called "purple fields". In 2000 he received the Fleroselect Quality Award Winner.

"Blausternchen" ("Blausternchen") has a very low compact bush, 10-15 cm tall. The inflorescences are few-flowered, loose, the baskets are blue with a lilac tint, dark purple in buds, small, 0.9-1 cm in diameter. The variety is not drought resistant enough. Early, blooms from early June to October.

Ageratum Houston can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. Most often they prefer growing from seeds.

Ageratum Reproduction

Ageratum - a genus from the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family, grows naturally in Central America, where about 60 species are found.

Planting density depends on the type of flower and its variety. For example, if you take a tall plant, then it is planted at a distance of 20-25 centimeters from each other. And if the plant is compact and even more stunted, then planting should be done at a distance of 10 centimeters from each other.

Ageratum is considered a long-flowered plant. Ageratum belongs to the Asteraceae family. These flowers are common in southern North America and also in South America. The genus Ageratum has about thirty species.

Ageratum is propagated by seeds or cuttings. Ageratum has a small fruit, which contains about 6-7 thousand seeds per gram. These seeds can remain viable for up to 4 years.

The variety of colors of ageratum makes it the most attractive for amateur gardeners who want to decorate their site. At the end of March, you need to sow the seeds in boxes with nutrient soil. They should not go deep. After about half a month, the first shoots appear from under the ground, and after another three weeks they are transplanted into larger boxes or greenhouses. We must not forget about the need to dive the plant during its growth. This is done twice. Young plants, as well as their seedlings, should be kept in dry air and slightly moist soil. Watering is carried out exclusively in the morning, and if the plant is in a greenhouse, it must be ventilated every day. Approximately two weeks before the start of planting, the ageratum is exposed to the air to get used to the external environment.

Ageratum white;

On the site, you should choose a place in which you will plant seedlings of ageratum. The soil on the site should be well-drained and in no case acidic. It is required to make shallow holes at a distance of about 20 cm from each other and spill them with water before planting seedlings.

Ageratum Planting and care

All varieties of hybrids bloom for a long time, from the beginning of June to September, especially if you cut off faded shields.

"Alba" ("Alba") - spherical, compact bush, up to 20 cm tall. Inflorescences are white, dense.

With seed propagation, there is a great variety in the color of the flowers. Varietal purity in most species does not exceed 80%. A double pick is desirable.

Varieties of Ageratum

A single species is common in culture - Ageratum Houston, or Mexican ageratum (A. Houstonianit, - A. mexicanum), which has been known since 1733.

In principle, caring for an ageratum is not very difficult. Care includes loosening the soil, watering, weeding and top dressing. Top dressing is carried out every two to three weeks. It is better to do this with humic or mineral fertilizers, as well as mullein infusion, since it has already been said that ageratum does not withstand fresh manure.

Ageratum does not apply to plants from which bouquets of dried flowers can be made. Although it is quite suitable for creating bouquets in the winter. If the plant is quickly dried, it will retain its decorative effect. To do this, you need to cut the flowers at the beginning of their blooming and hang loose bunches freely, preferably with the inflorescences down.

To obtain homogeneous plants, they are planted with cuttings. At a temperature of 20-22 degrees, the cuttings tend to take root quickly.

Landing features

To make sure how beautiful this plant looks, you just have to look at the ageratum flowers, the photos of which are located on the site. Already at first sight, a tropical plant really falls in love with itself!

Ageratum pink ball;

When the seedlings take root, they will need the following care: watering as the soil dries, loosening the soil around the seedling, thorough weeding of the area from weeds, as they can affect the root system of the ageratum, and weekly fertilizer.

Most of the above varieties are hard to find in regular seed stores, as well as in online stores.

Blue Perfection is a strongly branched, compact, almost spherical bush, 25-30 cm high, with strongly pubescent strong shoots with a purple tint on the sunny side. Large leaves on long petioles. Baskets are lilac-blue, 1.5-1.7 cm in diameter. Inflorescences are many-flowered, medium dense. This early variety blooms from early June.

For seedlings, the seeds of Mexican ageratum are sown from late February to early April. Shoots appear in 7-12 days at an air temperature of 20-22 degrees.

Ageratum means "ageless". So it is called because of the long flowering period from June to October, and also because its flowers retain brightness and color intensity for a long time. The people call the plant long-flowered.

If there is an excess of fertilizer, then the ageratum begins to "fatten", that is, all the forces are spent on the development of the bush, and not on flowering.

Tall varieties look beautiful not only in flower beds, but also when cut in vases. And they stand for a long time.

Sowing seeds is best done in late March or early April. It is better to plant in greenhouses or greenhouses. It is desirable to dive shoots into greenhouses. Seedlings do not like when there is excess moisture in the soil. After the end of spring frosts, they can be planted in the ground. For abundant and regular flowering, constant watering is necessary, but you need to water carefully so as not to hurt the flowers and leaves.

Plant growth and development are fast. Moreover, the ageratum plant itself corrects the depth in the ground. Growing from the seeds of this flower should begin only after all frosts have been completed. When planting in the ground, you must first loosen the landing site. Drainage or other wisdom in this case is not needed. The main thing is to place the seedlings at the same level as they were in the seedling boxes. It is not advisable to raise or greatly deepen the necks of the roots. Between two adjacent specimens, it is desirable to provide a distance of about 15 cm. The first flowers of the ageratum should appear in about two months.

Now we know exactly how to grow an ageratum, when to plant an ageratum and how to care for it, but there are a few more mandatory facts that will be described below. The ageratum itself, its seeds, an adult plant already planted in the soil, are all quite vulnerable to plant diseases that are developed in our country, and therefore, if you want to grow ageratum in a garden plot, buy seedlings and plant them in the ground or start with seeds,

Ageratum blue;

There are times when the seedlings of the ageratum begin to grow rapidly. This is not a very positive factor, since the plant should grow in a bushy manner and develop at a low height. In order to ensure proper growth, it is necessary to cut off the tops of the shoots, thereby forming a shrub.

Mostly other varieties are sold, some of which I have tested in combination with other colors.

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"Blau Kappe" ("Blaue Kappe") - a compact, low, hemispherical bush, 20-30 cm high, has dark green, densely pubescent shoots. Loose, medium-sized inflorescences, 5-6 cm in diameter. Lilac-blue, with short stigmas, baskets 1-1.5 cm in diameter. This late variety blooms from mid-June to October.

Planting and caring for late Viola cabbage planting and care